People left their doors on the latch, knew their neighbours and would even get to know the local bobby on their beat.

Programmes, such as Dixon of Dock Green, the longest running police series on British television, portrayed the police as down-to-earth characters who dealt with low-level crime, routine tasks while knowing most of the community on a first name basis.

But like the long-running television show, this type of policing became outdated, increasingly unrealistic, a rosy view of a world that was more about being everyone’s best friend than catching culprits.

And so in the 1970s, it was pulled from our screens and eventually the streets.

It was believed officers on the beat rarely came across crime and the walking beat bobby was replaced by the squad car.

Sceptics believed this type of action ripped the heart out of community policing while others believed it allowed extra manpower to be drawn elsewhere.

But now, with a national campaign already in force, the walking, biking beat bobby is back in town.

In fact, by 2008, more than 25,000 beat bobbies will be working in the community on a day-to-day basis.

In Loughborough and Shepshed, there are 13, with each assigned two PCSOs (police community support officers) to help.

But why the sudden change 30 years later?

I met up with PC Keeley Mansell, 31, who has been the Ashby Road Estate neighbourhood beat officer for the last three years.

Keeley works six days a week and covers Sharpley Road, Hermitage Road and Garendon Green.

She also works with five schools, including De Lisle and Burleigh.

So, what is a typical day for a Loughborough beat bobby, I ask her, as we walk up Sharpley Road.

“First of all I would check my emails and voicemail,” she added, stopping to wave at a neighbour.

“If there hasn’t been any reported incidents, then I will be walking the beat most of the day.”

Walking the beat for Keeley means finding out what is happening in the neighbourhood, what the residents concerns might be and then looking at ways of addressing them.

“Our agenda is the residents agenda,” she added, stopping to smile and wave to the seventh resident on our five-minute journey.

“You get to know a lot of people,” she laughs, “You do feel like part of the community, essentially you are one of the residents.”

But it has taken many years for Keeley to build this rapport.

“When I first came here, not many people wanted to talk. I tried knocking on doors but no one really wanted to know.”

But Keeley didn’t stop there. She wanted to bring the community together and set up a Witness Support Group, the same group which went on to win a national award.

“The support group gave residents a voice,” she added. “It gave them a place to meet to discuss their concerns.”

In May 2006, the support group helped evict two of the area’s known troublemakers, Ziggy and Troy Pennant.

The pair, who were accused of assault, theft, dangerous driving and carrying offensive weapons were evicted and banned from the area.

More recently, Keeley has taken 40 children to prison for the day.

She believes this experience has been a “real eye opener” for youngsters who are at risk of offending.

She smiles: “I’ve gone back to their houses and asked parents how it went and they are completely shocked. They are like, wow, he hasn’t said anything for the last few days. He’s really quiet.”

But it isn’t all about preventing anti-social behaviour.

“Here it is,” Keeley says as we reach Shortcliffe Park, a stones throw away from the Harvester restaurant.

“We are looking to build a shelter and a football pitch for the youngsters,” she added. “It’s important that we provide these kids with a place to go.”

Whether its removing a bin that has caught fire, talking to a concerned neighbour or asking an intimidating group of youths to move on, Keeley is the driving force behind the estate.

So as we reach the end of our tour, it is only right that I ask, why she thinks the beat bobby has made a comeback?

“You don’t need a baton or CS spray to be a police officer, “ she stresses. “You just need the ability to talk to people.

“I think it is very important that residents have a point of call. In most cases, you’re the first person people come too.”

And with that in mind its nice to know there is a Keeley in every neighbourhood in Loughborough, keeping your community safe, addressing its concerns and ultimately making it a better place to live.

Who knows, maybe in a few more years, we will be taking that latch off!